Stapling device



May 10, 1949.

Filed April 30, 1945 w. G. PANKONIN STAPLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

HTTOENZQ May 10, 1949. w G. PANKONiN ISTAPLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 30, 1945 INVENTOR. WILL/19M G. Pfi/VAON/A/ Patented May 10,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAPLING DEVICE William G. Pankonin,Chicago, Ill.

Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 591,009

15 Claims.

This invention rel-ates to improvements in stapling devices andparticularly to staplers of the pliers type.

It is one object of the invention to provide a pliers type of stapler inwhich individual functions are allocated to different parts, Which partsare interconnected during normal use but are readily disconnected forremoval of clogged staples and replacement of worn parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stapler in which thestaple driver blade is so held by the staple driver that undue weartherebetween is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stapler in which thestaple-feeding mechanism is movable into position for ready loading ofthe magazine but remains attached to the stapler during such loadingoperation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stapler of thehand-operated type in which the anvil-carrying member may be locked intoan inoperative position so that defective staples may be driven from thestapler.

The foregoing objects are obtained: by utilizing between the upperhandle and the staple driver a latch which releasably connects theseelements to transmit force therebetween, disengagement of the latchpermitting the upper handle to be swung out of the way and the stapledriver also pivoted upwardly to withdraw the driver blade from theejection chute providing access to clogged staples in the chute ormagazin and facilitating the exchange of driver blades; by engaging thedriver blade for its full width with the staple driver thus increasingthe area of driving surface contact therebetween to its maximum; byproviding a retainer with which the staple follower engages as it iswithdrawn from the magazine which holds the follower while allowing itto be swung out of the path to the mouth of the magazine; and byemploying a latch spring biased to either of latched or unlatcheclposition to positively lock the anvil carrier to lower handle in theretracted position of both.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of theinvention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of a specificembodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a stapling device embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane with the severallatches in engaged position;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation with a portion broken away to showthe coaction of the parts when staples are to be 1oaded into thestapler; and

Fig; 4 is a perspective view of the various stapler parts in exploded.relation.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the stapler generallycomprises a body .portion 5 which, in cooperation with thestaplecarrying portion 6, forms both a magazine and an ejection chutefor the staples. The staples are fed through the body by a follower,generally designated 1. The follower'when withdrawn is held in engagedrelationship with the body portion 5 by a retainer, generally designated8. The staples are driven through the material to be stapled by a driverblade 53 carried by a staple driver 9 connected with the body portion 5for oscillation therein. The blade 53 coacts with an anvil 81 on ananvil carrier ll, pivoted on the body 5, to clinch the staples. An upperhandle I, pivoted to the body member 5, is operatively associated withthe driver 9 to effect its oscillation. A lower handle 12, pivotallyinterconnected with both the body 5 and the anvil carrier ll, controlsthe cooperative action of the anvil 8|. The parts are preferably made ofsheet metal for economy in weight and in manufacturing cost although theparts may be otherwise constructed. It is, however, essential that theparts beso made so that the entire stapler is of a size and weight to beconveniently operated in one hand.

In the following description the left hand ends of the various parts, asviewed in the drawing, are termed the front or forward ends, and viceversa, and the parts toward the top of the drawings are considered asthe upper parts, and vice versa. The body member or portion 5 issubstantially channel-shaped with a bottom wall l4, side walls l5, and afront wall IS, the front wall being formed at right angles to the bottomfor a material portion of its height. The side walls are severallycorrugated or pressed. inwardly to form ribs or ridges [1,, which serveas guides overlying the staples as they pass through the body. Alinedpairs of holes [8, I9, 20 and 21 are formed in the side walls for thepurpose of mounting on the body portion some of the other portions abovegenerally designated. An opening 22 (see Fig. 2) is formed in the bottomM for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. Ears 23 formed preferablyfrom the material constituting the bottom l4 and extending at rightangles to the bottom and in spaced relation to each other, are providedwith alined holes 24 for the purpose of mounting, on the body, otherportions of the structure above generally designated.

The staple carrier or magazine member 6 is formed substantially as achannel of such size as to fit into the body 5 in spaced relation withthe side walls I5 thereof to allow free movement of the usual U-shapedstaples straddling the carrier with the legs of the staples extendinginto the spaces between the side walls of the body and the sides of thestaple carrier. The sides 21 of the carrier are of such height that thestaples may slide freely between the ribs H and the tops of the edges ofsuch sides. The body 5 and the carrier 6 hence define a magazine forreceiving a supply of staples and from which the staples are fed into achute defined by the vertical portion of the front wall l6 of the body 5and a front Wall 28 of the carrier 6, it being understood that such twofront walls are spaced from each other a sufficient distance only toallow free passage therethrough of one staple. The forward end of thecarrier 6 is shaped to extend downwardly through the opening 22 in thebody bottom l4 to bring such forward end of the carrier 6 substantiallyflush withthe bottom of the body front wall l6. The rear ends ofthecarrier sides 21 are curved, as is usual, to aid in placingthe stapleson the carrier, and'the rear bottom end of the carrier 6 is formed witha slot 29 (see Fig. 2) for the purpose of holding the follower I inoperative position, as will be apparent from the following description,

The follower l, which feeds the staples through the magazine and pressesthem into the ejection chute, comprises a head 33 which is substantiallyU-shaped and of a size substantially like that of the staples so as tomove freely through the staple magazine. The head is formed with lugs 34defining a space of predetermined size and shape and extending upwardlyfrom the magazine space for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. Thefollower head is so connected with a rod 35 that the head may move awayor toward the forward end of the rod against or under the action of acompression spring 36 placed around the rod. One end of the spring bearsagainst a handle 31 fixed on the rear end'of the rod and having aprojection 38 engageable in the slot 29 of the staple carrier 6. It willbe understood that the follower head 33 bears on the staples in themagazine when the projection 38 engages in the slot 39, the spring 36being compressed to different degrees dependent on thequantity ofstaples in the magazine, and that the parts are so proportioned as toallow filling of the magazine to a substantial degree while the staplesare pressed forward with sufficient force to deliver the last of thestaples into the ejection chute.

The follower retainer 8 comprises a guide 4| pivotally mounted on a pin.42 passing through the holes in the stapler body 5 and is formed witharms 43 and 44 extending therefrom to fit in freely sliding relationinto the body 5 and to keep the retainer guide 4| in a substantiallycentral position on its pivot. A bar 45 is mounted on and extends bothforwardly and rearwardly from the guide 4|, the bar being somewhatsmaller in size than, and of a sectional shape such that it may beengaged and held by, the follower head lugs 34 so that the followerhead, during a portion of its rearward movement, is restrained by theaction of a spring- 46 about the bar and is held against disengagementfrom the bar by a suitable head on the end of the bar. A saddle 41 isset into the body 5 to rest on the ribs I'I therein and is fixed inposition by a pin 48 passing through the body holes 2|, the pin having aspring 43 mounted thereon under the saddle and bearing on the guide 4|to urge such head in a clockwise direction about its pivot.

It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the follower head 33 is disengaged fromthe retainer bar when the follower head is pressed forwardly beyond theend of the bar as staples are fed through the machine, and that theretainer spring 43 tends to hold the retainer head and bar in ahorizontal position. However, when the follower handle projection 38 isreleased from the carrier slot 23 and the follower head is beingwithdrawn from the stapler body 5, the lugs 34 on the follower head 33engage with and slide along the retainer bar 45. When the follower isfully withdrawn from the stapler body, the spring 46 is compressed andthe head 33 is clear of the magazine. The guide 4| then pivots to theposition shown in Figure 3, and the spring 36 presses the head 33against the sloping edges of the saddle 41 to hold the follower in theout-of-the-way position to permit the staples to be loaded into themagazine. After the magazine has been filled, the operator exertsoutward pressure on the handle 31 and swings the follower downwardlyinto alignment with the magazine permitting its entry therein. Theretainer 8 functions not only to keep the follower always attached tothe body 5 but also to hold the follower in loading position and toguide the head 33 into the magazine opening after loading.

Staples are fed through the magazine into the ejection chute from whichthey are driven by the staple driver 9 which includes an arm 50 ofsubstantially channel-shape placed in inverted position to straddle thesaddle 4'! for pivotal mounting on the pin 48, with the arm side walls5| extending into spaces between the saddle and in contact both with thelegs thereof and with the sides of the stapler body, but with the topwall 52 extending above the edges of the stapler body sides I5. Theunder surface of the top wall 52 is formed with a groove 52' toremovably receive and hold a driver blade 53 in operative relation onthe arm 56. The driver blade is provided with notches 53' receivingtongues or keys 54' on the forward ends of the side walls 5| when theend of the blade seats in groove 52 in the top wall. Hence such sidewall ends provide surfaces both for lifting the blade and for backingthe blade in its movements while driving force is applied by the armover the entire width of the blade by the top wall 52. This is importantbecause the blade is preferably made of hardened steel, while the arm isof non-hardened steel, and wear can readily take place if there is aninadequate contacting surface. The blade is accordingly replaceablymounted and so mounted as to be capable of both reciprocatory movementin the ejection chute, and such oscillatory movement as is required bythe pivotal mounting of the arm 50. A spring 54 is fixed on a boss 55extending from the upper surface of the top wall 52 and seats on a boss56 on the upper handle H], the spring urging the arm and the handle toswing about their respective pivots when the arm and the handle areinterconnected, as will be described. An abutment mom'- ber 51 with arounded end is fixed on the top wall of the driver arm to be engageablewith the handle l tostop upward movement of handle in and the drivingarm as will appear hereinafter. A slot 58 is out through the top wall 52to receive a latch, and a portion of the top wall at one end of the slotis shaped to provide a curved surfaced projection 59 on the undersurface of the wall 52 to function as a latch keeper.

The upper handle it! is also substantially-channel-shaped but ismodified to conform to the hand of a user and as an inclosing. guard forsome of the relatively moving parts of. the device to prevent injury tothe hand which is likewise the reason for providing a hand guard 52which prevents such inadvertent positioning of the hand as would allowpinching between unguarded and relatively movable parts of the device.The forward end of the handle is pivoted on the stapler body by a pin 63extending through. the body holes 18, and a pin-locking spring 64 isfixed on the handle to engage a groove in such pin and prevent movementthereof from. its desired position. A bracket 65 is fixed on the handleand a slot is formed: through both the handle and the bracket to receivea latch 65 pivoted on the bracket by a pin 6-1. The latch is sopositioned that it may pass through the driver arm slot 59 and the noseof the latch is biased by a spring 98 toward engaged position with thekeeper surface 59 on the driver arm. The latch provides readilyreleasable means interconnecting the dri ing arm and the handle totransmit force therebetween during both the driving action and therestoration action as will be explained in detail hereinafter. Thuspressure applied to the handle istransmitted to the driving blade toforce staples through the ejection chute and the material to be stapled,and to clinch the staples under the material. By merely unlatching thelatch 55 the handle I0 and arm 9 may be swung upwardly out of the body 5to permit access to jammed staples in the chute or magazine and topermit the exchange of the driving blade 53.

The staples driven through the ejection chute and the material are bentor clinched by a structure now to be described, which includes ananvilcarrying arm ll of substantially channel shape pivotally mounted ona pin ll extending through holes in the side walls of the arm andthrough the holes 24 in the. ears 23 on the stapler body bottom [4. Aspring I2 is fixed on a boss in the arm I? and extends toward thestapler body where it seats on a boss 13. The side walls of the arm I Iare provided intermediate the ends thereof with alined holes 14 forpivotal mounting thereon of the lower handle [-2 by means of a pin T5which moves in slots in ears l6- fixed on the stapler body, which earsserve as a guide to the movement of the carrier arm to keep suchmovement in a predetermined path. The forward end of the carrier arm His enlarged as indicated at 'l"! to provide a substantially rectangularseat with a portion of the upper edges of the side walls notched to formanother seat. The seat in the side walls of the portion 11 receives ananvil support T3 see Fig. 2) of which a portion rests on and is fixed tothe carrying arm II' by a screw T9 or other suitable means while theother portion of the arm is spaced from the bottom of the-carrying armto provide space for a pivot pin 89' fixed to an anvil 8t and heldagainst the support by a spring 32 acting between a surface of thesupport and a head on the pivot. The anvil may therefore be lifted outof its seat notches in. the carrier arm portion ll against the action ofthe spring 82- and. may be rotated before reseating. to bring either acavity 83 or cavities M into operative position for the stapling actionof the device. To aid in turning the anvil 8| there is provided a button81 which holds the anvil lit up during the turning movement. The carrierarm ll is formed with a slot 85 therethrough and a cylindrical surfacedportion 86 adjacent the end of the slot to form a keeper for a latch on.the lower handle 12.

The lower handle I2 is also formed in substantially channel shape,modified to provide surfaces suitable. for gripping by the hand and withthe side walls thereof i-lared outwardly to move over the upper arm in.the fully contracted position and to serve as guards to prevent injuryto the hand- The handle I2 is pivotally mounted on the pin 1:5 extendingthrough holes 9| in the side walls of the handle and through holes 14'in the anvil-carrying arm I I. The forward ends of the handle side wallsare formed as projecting tabs 92' on which links 93 are severallypivoted. These links form a pivotal connection with thestapler body 5 byway of a pin 94 extending through the body holes IS, the tabs 92 actingto retain the pin 94' in place. A slot 98 is formed in the lower surfaceof the handle 12 to receive a latch 95 pivoted on a pin 96'. The latch95' is biased by a spring 9'! to either hooked or un=- hooked engagementwith the keeper surface 86 of the anvil carrier arm ll. Due to the bowedshape of spring 91 the force asserted by its latch engaging end is.generally directed toward the pin 99 from. the handle [2 engaging end.Hence when the latch 95 is manually moved from. one to the. other of itsextreme positions, the force of spring 91, as the latch moves throughits center position, changes from urging the latch to one direction tothe opposite direction.

To operate the device, it is held in the hand of the operator with thefingers encircling the lower handle I2 and the thumb and palm encirclingthe upper handle ID. Gripping pressure of the hand willurge each ofthese handles toward each other and toward the body member 5. However,the springs 54 and 12 are so proportioned that the lower handle l2 willmove first and cause the anvil-carrying arm H to swing upwardly aboutits pivot H and compress material to be stapled between the anvil 8| andthe ejection chute in the body 5. It will be understood that thismovement is accomplished by the pivoting of the lower handle l2 aboutits pivotal connection 94 (Fig. 3) with the stapler body 5 through thelinks 93, which pivoting will react on the pivot 15 and through ittransmit force to the anvil carrying arm ll. Continued pressure causes.upper handle I0 to pivot. about pin 53 and transmit force to arm 9through abuttment member 51 until the rounded portion of latch 66strikes arm 9. From this point on the driving force is transmittedthrough the latch structure. It is to be noted that spring 54 iscompressed as the handle Ill and driving arm 9 approach a parallelrelationship.

When the pressure of the hand is released, the spring 54 expands toraise the upper handle ll about its pivot 63. This upward movementraises the driving arm 5 latched thereto'about its pivot 48 and retractsthe driving blade 53 to the position at which the follower I may feed. astaple into the ejection chute. This action is identical with that shownand described in the patent to William G; Pankonin, No. 2,286,155,.issued June 9, 1942 The degree to which the driving blade 53 is raisedis determined by the engagement oi abutment members 51 between 7 theforward end of the staple driver 9 and the inner surface of the upperhandle ID. The height of abutment 51 provides a convenient way ofcontrolling the upward movement of arm 9 but abutment may be eliminatedso that engagement between the driving end of arm 9 and the underside ofhandle [0 will limit upward movement. Likewise, the spring 12 causes thelower arm H and anvil carrier I2 to again assume the position shown inFigures 1 and 2.

When it is desired to eject staples from the chute without performanceof the staple turning or clinching action, it is merely necessary tolatch the lower handle I2 to the anvil carrier II which then holds suchparts in fixed position with the anvil 8| at its widest spacing from theend of the ejection chute. This is accomplished by manually moving thelatch 95 back to the latched position shown in Fig. 2. This facilitatesthe ejection of deformed or clogged staples from the stapler. Releasingof the latch 95 again allows movement of the lower handle l2 and theanvilcarrying arm 10 relative to each other and relative to the staplerbody 5 so that complete stapling operations can again be performed.

The staple-feeding mechanism and associated structure disclosed hereinare described and claimed in my divisional application Serial No.738,782, filed April 2, 1947, for stapling device.

While constructions in which this invention may be embodied have beenshown and described,

driver pivoted to said body member and having a driving blade operablein said ejection chute, said driver being swingable to withdraw saidblade from said chute and to provide access to said magazine, an upperhandle also pivoted to said body portion and overlying said driver, alatch releasably connecting said upper handle and said driver totransmit force therebetween, and an anvil carrier operable in connectionwith said upper handle.

2. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and. anejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said body portion, an upperhandle pivoted to said body portion, a thrust member and latchconnection for releasably associating said upper handle and said driver,and an anvil carrier operable in connection with said upper handle. I

3. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and anejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handleassociated with said body portion, an anvil carrier pivoted to said bodymember, a lower handle pivotally mounted on said anvil carrier andhaving connecting portions positioned on opposite sides of said bodyportion, and links pivotally interccnnecting said connecting portions tosaid body portion.

4. Ina stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and anejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handleassociated with said body portion, an anvil carrier pivoted to said bodymember, a lower handle pivotally mounted on said anvil carrier andhaving forward projections positioned on opposite sides of said portion,links pivotally interconnecting said forward projections to said bodyportion whereby pivoting of said lower handle causes movement of saidanvil carrier relative to said body portion, and tabs formed on saidprojections to aid in holding said links in operative position.

5. In a stapling device, a. body portion comprising a magazine and anejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handleassociated therewith, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body portion, alower handle having an intermediate point pivoted to said anvil carrier,said lower handle being connected to opposite sides of said body portionby means permitting limited sliding movement therebetween, and a springbetween said body portion and said anvil carrier to urge said carrierand said handle downwardly.

6. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and anejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handleassociated therewith, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body portion, alower handle having an intermediate point pivoted to said anvil carrier,said lower handle being connected to said body portion by meanspermitting limited sliding movement therebetween, said handle having aportion adapted to abut against said anvil carrier when said handlepivots with respect thereto to limit the downward movement of said anvilcarrier, and a spring between said body portion and said carrier to urgesaid carrier and said handle downwardly.

7. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and anejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said body portion, an upperhandle overlying said staple driver and also pivoted to said bodyportion, a thrust member and latch connection between said handle andstaple driver, spring means acting between said handle and said driverto urge both upwardly, engagement between means adjacent and end of saiddriver and a portion of said handle acting to limit the upward motion ofsaid driver, and means associated with said body portion and cooperablewith said handle to clinch the legs of staples driven from said ejectionchute.

8. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and anejection chute, a driving blade reciprocal in said ejection chute, astaple driver pivoted to said body portion and detachably carrying saidblade, an upper handle pivoted to said body portion, a thrust member andlatch interconnection between said handle and said staple driver,resilient means acting between said handle and said driver to urge saidblade upwardly, engagement between means adjacent an end of said driverand a portion of said handle acting to limit the upward movement of saidblade, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body member and having an anvilin registry with said ejection chute, a lower handle pivoted to saidcarrier, said lower handle having a forward portion underlying saidcarrier and projections on opposite sides of said body portion, linksconnecting said projections to said body portion, and spring meansacting between said body portion and said anvil carrier to move saidcarrier downwardly, the engagement between said forward portion and saidanvil carrier acting to limit the downward movement of said carrierrelative to said body portion.

9. In a stapling device, a body portion com-- prising a magazine and anejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said portion, an upper handlepivoted to said body portion, an unlatchable force transmissionconnection between said arm and said driver, an anvil carrier pivoted tosaid body portion, a lower handle pivoted to said carrier andoperatively connected to said body portion, said handles being movablerelative to each other and to said body portion to drive and clinchstaples, and a latch biased by spring means to either latched orunlatched position, said latch when moved to latching position acting toengage said lower handle and said anvil carrier to restrain relativemovement therebetween while permitting relative movement between saidupper handle and said body portion.

10. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and anejection chute, staple driving means including an upper handleassociated therewith, an anvil carrier pivoted to said body portion, alower handle pivotally mounted on said carrier and operativelyinterconnected with said body portion whereby relative movement betweensaid handle and said carrier effects relative movement between saidcarrier and said body portion, a, latch carried by one and engageablewith the other of said lower handle and anvil carrier, said latch beingmovable from unlatched to latched position to prevent relative movementtherebetween, and a spring acting to urge said latch into either latchedor unlatched position.

11. In a stapling device, a housing containing a magazine for staples,an ejection chute at the forward end of said housing, a staple drivingtool operable to drive the staples from the magazine nd through saidchute, a movable arm positioned above said housing and co-operating withsaid driving tool to drive the staples, said arm being substantiallyparallel with the top of said housing and the pivot point of said armbeing positioned forward of said ejection chute and said driving tool.

12. A stapling device, including a magazine. for staples in strip formand an ejection chute through which the staples are discharged, a seriesof movable arms, two of which are mounted at the rear end of saidhousing, one carrying staple driving means and the other an anvil forbending the legs of the staples, one overlying said magazine and theother lying underneath said magazine, another pair of arms pivotallyconnected to said housing at its forward end and overlying the saidfirst two mentioned arms, said second two mentioned arms forming handlesfor said device and co-operating with the first two mentioned arms todrive and bend staple legs.

13. A stapling machine having an upper portion including a magazine forstaples, an ejection chute for the staples, and means for driving thestaples from said magazine through said chute, a lower movable sectionhaving two arms, one having an anvil for clinching the legs of staplesand the other forming a handle for operating said section, and a latchcarried by one of said arms and engageable with the other of said armsto prevent movement of said section.

14. A stapling device having means for receiving a supply of preformedstaples, a housing, an arm pivoted to one end of said housing carryingstaple driving means, and a second arm pivoted to the other end of saidhousing and cooperating with said first arm to drive the staples fromthe magazine, and a thrust member and latch for detachably connectingsaid arms intermediate their pivot points.

15. In a stapling device, a body portion comprising a magazine and nejection chute, a staple driver pivoted to said body portion and havinga swingable end in substantial alinement with said ejection chute whenin operative position, said swingable end having a groove extendingacross the width of said driver, a driving blade reciprocal in saidejection chute, the top of said blade being of substantially the samewidth as said groove and received therein whereby driving force isapplied by said driver over the entire width of the blade, and tongueand groove means carried by said driver and blade and interengageableupon pivoting said blade in said groove whereby said means holds saidblade within said groove.

WILLIAM G. PANKONIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,149,839 Cavanagh Mar. 7, 19392,165,572 Pankonin July 11, 1939 2,251,917 Crosby Aug. 12, 19412,267,990 Obstfeld Dec. 30, 1941 2,268,102 Attula Dec. 30, 19412,286,155 Pankonin June 9, 1942 2,310,530 Krantz Feb. 9, 1943 2,311,412Pankonin Feb. 16, 1943 2,328,839 Obstfeld Sept. 7, 1943 2,331,252 VanTuyl Oct. 5, 1943 2,343,203 Pankonin Feb. 29, 1944 2,354,760 LindstromAug. 1, 1944 2,381,192 Vancura Aug. 7, 1945

